Mode of fastening sheets of paper together



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVIN Il. S\VARTVOUT, OF UTICA, NEr YORK.

MODE OF FASTEIVING SHEETS OF PAPER TOGETHER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,322, dated March 22, 1859.

i0 all whom it may concern:

l points are bent over and hammered down Be it known that I, EDWIN L. SwAnTWoUT, into the holes e, c, and lrmly clenched of Utica. in the county of Oneida and State through them into the paper; the clasp then of New York, have invented a new and Ilnproved Mode of Fastening Sheets of Paper Together for Legal and other Documents;

and I do hereby declare that the following is f a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing' a metallic clasp with teeth, and a perforated metal plate, the holes of which correspond with the teeth of the clasp to which they are secured when applied for fastening sheets of paper together for legal and other documents.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct a clasp out of sheet metal with suitable dies and tools of the form and shape of A, (Figure l) in the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the clasp full size and turned over showing the teeth Z1, Z), projecting upward from the plate which are formed by cutting through the metal on two sides of the tooth and bending it at rightangles from the face of the plate with .a die or similar tool, which leaves the angular shape holes c, c, as shown in Fig. l.

B, (Fig. 2) is a view of the perforated plate which is also formed out of sheet metal, showing the narrow holes d, d, which are cut out with suitable dies or punches so as to correspond and fit the teeth of the clasp when placed together; also showing the half round holes e, e, which are made t-o receive the points of the teeth when they are bent over and fastened.

The clasp is applied by putting the teeth through holes in sheets of paper previously made with a cutting tool, and then it is turned over and the perforated plate placed over the teeth through the holes CZ, (Z, and pressed down snug to the paper, when the presents the appearance as shown at f, f, on the document C, (Fig. 3).

The advantages of this mode of fastening are first; that the several sheets of paper are so very firmly and securely bound together as in no way or manner to loosen or come apart; and second; thatthe shape ot the clasp and plate are such, presenting long straight edges, instead of circular or angular edges to the action of the paper, that with ordinary usage it will resist all strain upon it and not tear or cut the paper as is oftentimes the case with eyelets and other like methods of fastening. In addition to these advantages of strength, durability and permanency, it is a fastening cheap of construction, simple and easy of application, and light tasteful and ornamental in its appearance.

It will be noticed that the clasp can be made of any desired length and number of teeth to suit the case, also that two short fasteners placed one or two inches apart, can be used instead of one long one in t-he center without changing the nature of the invention.

I am aware that metal plates have been used for fastening in various ways in the construction of book clasps, carpet bags, harnesses &c. I do not therefore claim irrespective of construction any such devices. But

IVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The new and improved article of manufacture the metallic clasp A, in combination with the perforated metal plate B, for fastening together legal and other documents, constructed as described in the manner and l for the purpose substantially as specified.

EDIVIN L. SVARTIVOUT. litnesses t DEXTER GILMORE, S. J. BARRows. 

